365 Days that Changed My Life

M,

Looking back on your first year with us, I am automatically reminded of how we first met. I'm reminded of how different I was before you arrived and how one day can change so many lives.

And that one day, the day you arrived in our arms, was the start of an entire year of changes and learning......learning how to care for you, how to communicate with you, how to juggle parenthood with other life roles, how to put someone else first in each and every decision I make, and generally just how to be a mom. I made a lot of mistakes along the way and am eternally thankful for your guardian angel, who saved us both from many potentially embarrassing or dangerous situations as I learned from my blunders.

Along the way I learned a lot about you, about myself, and about the type of mom I am becoming. I Anticipated that i would learn a lot about babies during this voyage, but I never realized how much I would learn about myself. And first and foremost, I've learned that this mom gig is even harder than it looks and I may be insane because I'd do it again in a minute if given the opportunity.

Thank you for making the last year the best of my life (and I know your daddy agrees). Were both looking forward to all the interesting moments you will bring to our life next year.

365 days of love,
Momma

11 Month Musings

Munchkin,

Sorry this note to you is a little late. Luckily you probably have no idea how crazy your dad and I's life has been the last few months, trying to get settled in Central PA, and sometimes, that means I dont get around to writing to you as promptly as Id like to. So, heres my short note to you between your 11 month milestone and your first birthday.

This month more than most I have realized that you are becoming a little girl before our eyes. You still use bottles most often because you have discovered the joy of spitting only when using your sippy cup. You are still in diapers and still talk in baby babble. Yet, you are so grown up compared to that 2 month old babe that smiled, that 6 month old angel that rolled over, that 7 month old sweetie that crawled, that 10 month old cutie that cut her first tooth.

You seem advanced in your waves and "Hi!!!s", your more discerning giggles and grins, your music induced hip shaking, your focused and swift crawl, your mischievous smile at the cusp of an electrical outlet, and of course your staggering first steps. All of a sudden your photos show a little girl staring back, and not a baby. Your new, largely vertical, existence reminds me that its only a matter of a few weeks until you are running across the room, charging forward into a new chapter of your adventure, and this time on your own two feet.

As your first birthday approaches I find myself thinking of all that you've accomplished and learned in your first dozen months in our world. And all my thoughts end on the same sentiment. You are a truly amazing child. And I am so thankful that you are mine.

I love you much,

Momma

10 month photos....a little late

Top Ten

Hi Love Bug!! In honor of your 10 month anniversary, I thought Id write up a quick list of the Top 10 ways you make me (and your father) smile. Of course theres far more than 10, but this is just the best of highlights ;)

10: How grown up you look drinking from your sippy cup!
9: You think your father trying to "scare you" is hilarious
8: The way you wave and say "hi" to nearly any friendly face
7: The way you squeal and giggle and chuckle, especially at little things like raspberries on your tummy
6: When I come into a room your face lights up and your smile broadens to fill your entire face
5: The way you seem compelled to take every item out of a basket/ shelf/cabinet and cant stop until EVERY item is on the floor
4: Your best zombie impression complete with heavy breathing and gnawing on my collarbone
3: Maren Squareface: the way your face scrunches up when you're ready to cry
2: The way you put your hand up in the air when you dance
1: The fact that you're so happy, all the time. for no reason at all

Three Quarters

Happy 9 Month Birthday Maren (a few days late)!!!

New this month.....you look like a little girl, not a baby! I thought Id at least have a couple years before you seemed to be all grown up, but I feel like this month was the beginning of the end of your babydom. You have more hair, more personality, more language, more steady feet, more appetite, and of course, more will. You are changing so fast, I feel like every morning I wake up to a new girl. One day you crawled and the next day you stood. One day your hands collided with one another and the next day you were applauding and giving unsteady standing ovations. One day you put your whole hand in your mouth to try to lodge a single cheerio in your cheek. The next day you were eating pieces of banana, potatoes, bread, and tofu with experienced grace. You see, its all happening so fast.

To be honest, I think one reason I want you to stay in your baby stage is that I know you are going to be a pistol as you get older, more skillful, more vocal, and more willful. Your full body whines, theatric coughing, and immediate irritation when faced with a delay of any kind, reminds me daily that you my friend, are a handful. And I could really use a few more months with a baby that doesnt know better. So during these last few months when I can convince myself that all you need are hugs and patty cakes and cheerios, I plan to spoil you and enjoy your smiles and giggles that you hand out even more freely than your disapproving grunts and growls.

Happy end of summer my baby. See you in September, when Im sure you'll be looking like a teenager.

Lots of love,

Momma

Happy 8 Months to Maren!!

Disclaimer: The traditional numbered sign is missing from the 8 month photo shoot because I forgot to pack it with our beach vacation items. Please use your imagination to insert the sign in the photo on right.

My Sweet Girl,

Im so proud of you. In the last month you have become a highly mobile baby. And really thats not even why Im so proud of you, though I do admit that I am jealous of your excellent posture as you have mastered sitting upright and find your flexibility and dexterity something short of Houdini amazing. Im so proud of you because you are fearless. And while I see this being a dangerous character trait in the future if a suspect man in a conversion van were to offer you candy, in your present world its quite an asset.

You have no concerns about gravity or physics as you pull yourself up onto unsteady baskets or attempt to reach for a toy well out of your grasp, sending yourself flipping into an impromptu belly flop. You race toward anything shining, flashing, spinning or making noise and consider the cats mere mobile playthings.

Some could consider this behavior reckless and ignorant, and yes, perhaps it is as you have yet to learn about the dangers of sharp corners and lost footing. However, I choose to marvel in the reckless abandon you show while truly living life. Your adventure is not hindered by caution, your excitement is not depressed by worst case scenarios. Your view of the world is not only from two feet off the ground, but also from a glass half full. And I hope that as you grow I can replicate that attitude, albeit with a healthy dose of caution for both of our safety's sake.

And I hope I can replicate your bravery as well. Last week when we introduced you to the pool you stared straight ahead and marveled at what seemed to be the biggest bathtub ever imaginable. Beyond an annoyance at the water temperature which quickly receded as your own body adjusted, you accepted this new environment with an inquisitive and adventurous spirit. You splashed in the water and kicked your feet, you leaned back to float and forward to drink (luckily we caught you before you were successful at that attempt), you stared at the water ahead and blinked only to take it all in. And later when we walked to the ocean shore you didnt hesitate, looking at the waves crash on the land as if you've done all this before. You sank your feet in and let the waves swirl around your ankles, strong and sturdy after only a week of standing on your own two feet. And to me, this was bravery in a two foot and 17 pound package. Granted you were ignorant to the massiveness of the ocean and the danger that waves can bring. But you also didnt know what was facing you just a few feet ahead, matching your height and chilling your skin. You had never seen this pebbly ground and had never felt sand sift over your feet. You had no idea what would happen as the water rushed toward you, seemingly able to swallow your entirety. Yet you stood, and you stared, and you accepted what would come without protest or concern. I cant say that Ive stood that strong or that brave in the face of my own unknowns.

So I look to you my brave girl, on a few days past your 8 month birthday, to show me how to live life more fully; spending fewer moments worrying about obstacles, backup plans, and safety measures and more time basking in the unknown and seeking adventure in the most mundane situations, like our living room! I look to you my brave girl to remind me that anything that shines, flashes, spins, or makes noise is certainly worth my undivided attention.

All my love,

Momma

Vogue

Over Memorial Day weekend Babycakes participated in her first photo shoot to commemorate her 6 month birthday. The photos were vomit inducing level of sweet and of course Maren was all smiles, well, until the very end when nap time was dangerously close. Check out the photos on the photographers website here:

http://www.erichafarrington.com/site/#/home/
Go to "Proofing" and write "Rossiter1" as the password

Enjoy!